She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 727 - 725: Is This Taking Up Grievances?

Chapter 727: Chapter 725: Is This Taking Up Grievances?

Shi Lan entered the side hall, and indeed took a look around the hall, spotting Ye Xinyi conversing with a few young matrons at a glance; joyfully she said to Ye Xinyan, "Miss Ye, look, isn’t that the Fourth Grandmother of the Ji Family?"

Today, when they left home, in order for someone familiar with the capital to accompany Ye Xinyan, Madam Yin had specially arranged for Cui Bai to accompany her and attend to her needs together with An Ping’s household servants.

Although An Ping’s household had known that Miss Ye was on bad terms with the Second Great Aunt of the Duke’s Mansion, they had not deeply understood the situation. Hearing Shi Lan’s words, although they didn’t quite agree, they didn’t think too much of it. Being daughters of the Ye Family, even if they were on bad terms, it would only be a case of mutual dislike, not going so far as to cause a scene in public.

However, Cui Bai had a different view. She had always served by Madam Yin’s side, so she naturally knew more of the inner workings. Hearing Shi Lan speak, she couldn’t help but gaze at her intently.

Miss Shi, can you really be so nonchalant? Soon you will enter the royal family to become a Prince’s Consort, and with your temper, how will you handle dealings with the Imperial Family’s female relatives?

Shi Lan, who was focused on not triggering Miss Ye’s temper, had forgotten to carefully consider the Ye Family’s past incidents. It was only upon seeing the odd look on the face of the maid beside Miss Ye that she suddenly recalled that Miss Ye seemed to not get along with the Fourth Grandmother of the Ji Family.

Indeed, how could a concubine-born daughter who had held sway over the legitimate wife of the heir apparent for over twenty years get along with the main wife and her legitimate daughter?

But the words were already spoken and could not be taken back. Shi Lan smiled awkwardly in an attempt to remedy the situation, saying, "And there’s Sister Yin, Miss Ye, look, that’s Sister Yin, isn’t it?"

Ye Xinyan saw the fleeting embarrassment on Shi Lan’s face but didn’t mind much, saying, "Miss Shi, go busy yourself, do not mind me. I will find familiar people to speak with." It’s safest for her to find a spot to stay by herself; that way, she’s least likely to encounter trouble. f\ree webn ovel(.)com

Seeing Shi Lan hesitate, she teased, "Could it be that Miss Shi is worried that I will actively seek out trouble?"

Shi Lan looked embarrassed, realizing that Miss Ye’s conduct was indeed unlike that of an ordinary woman from the inner courtyards.

In the side hall, Yin Yuanfang was following her father’s instructions to look after her cousin at the Spring Welcome Banquet. Seeing Ye Xinyan, she immediately left the group of young ladies she was speaking with and approached her.

Yin Yuanfang nodded to Shi Lan and came over to pay her respects to Ye Xinyan, saying, "Cousin, you’ve arrived? Come, let’s go join the others for a chat."

Ye Xinyan looked at the little dames, around thirteen or fourteen years old, that Yin Yuanfang was indicating and was taken aback. To think, as an old lady, she would have a generation gap with these children, right?

But then, looking at Shi Lan, she realized that as today’s host and likely to become Jinrong’s Concubine, she would indeed be very busy. Normally, she would only need to greet each young lady and young matron, fulfilling the host’s etiquette. It was only out of fear that she, Miss Ye, might cause trouble that such effort was made to find her a suitable social group.

Ye Xinyan gestured in the direction pointed out by Yin Yuanfang and said to Shi Lan with a smile, "Miss Shi, go busy yourself. I will go... over there to talk with my cousin."

Damn it, that’s practically a group of kids just out of elementary school, isn’t it? Miss Ye, how did you manage to dig such a deep hole for yourself?

Ye Xinyan, filled with despair, sat among a group of young girls fresh out of elementary school, trying her best to minimize her presence. She didn’t even dare sit up straight, her face etched with embarrassment.

Perhaps it’s just human nature. Back when Miss Ye was unreasonable and would pick fights to bully others at any time, no one dared so much as to breathe too loudly, for fear that the demon would turn her attention to them, avoiding her at all costs.

But now, Ye Xinyan sat harmlessly among the children, speaking little and acting obediently, and so, before long, there were whispers of speculation.

"Haven’t seen Miss Ye for a few years, she’s really changed from before, hasn’t she?"

"Yes, indeed, she was never like this in the past."

Blah blah blah....

Everyone’s eyes darted around, exchanging glances and reaching a highly unified consensus: So she’s fine after all!

Let’s try again then.

"Hey hey hey, do you guys think she’s just pretending? The elders always say that one’s nature can be seen at three and will solidify by seven. How could her personality change after twenty years?"

"I don’t know, but she seems fine now."

"..."

Still no reaction, huh?

Does this mean that Miss Ye has become just like us, having to hold her tongue even when she hears unpleasant things and waiting for a chance to strike back in secret? In other words, we can now speak our minds freely?

"Miss Ye is actually quite capable; I heard she handles things outside just as well as any man. But, flaunting herself in public, that doesn’t seem very respectable."

"Exactly, a woman should be gentle and virtuous. Before marriage, she should remain in her boudoir, learning etiquette, manners, and needlework, and so on. After marriage, she should manage household affairs and teach her children."

"Indeed, it’s highly improper. How could Jiang Yifan reconcile with such a woman?"

The voices of the gossipers were low, but Yin Yuanfang could vaguely make out bits and pieces of the conversation, including the sensitive topic of Miss Ye, which caused her to frown and led her to pull Ye Xinyan and a few close girlfriends further into the corner.

Seeing that Miss Ye, the subject of the conversation, had moved a bit farther away, the group’s discussion became even more candid.

A somewhat shrill voice said: "Look at that, she clearly comes from a rough military family. Just look at that outfit, trying to appear understated and ethereal, but it doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. See how ostentatiously she’s wearing that bracelet, as if she’s afraid no one will know she owns a rare treasure. Paired with all those bright jewels, she’s obviously trying to show off that her family has lots of silver."

"Have you heard that she previously dressed in men’s attire when visiting Prime Minister Han’s residence? Her garments then were even more flashy and vulgar, not even on par with a nouveau riche’s son, completely lacking substance and taste."

"Taste in clothes is one thing, but for a woman, character is what’s most important."

Although Ye Xinyan didn’t know exactly what the buzzing conversations in the hall were about, the sidelong glances that swept over her gave her a pretty good idea that she had become the focal point.

Really, she hadn’t provoked them, so why were they treating her as public enemy number one? If she lost her temper and made a scene now, would that infamous reputation of being obnoxious fall on her head again? free\we\bnov(e)(l).com

Fortunately, since she couldn’t hear them, she didn’t feel angry. Let them indulge in their chatter. Well, actually, the main point was, even if she was unwilling to be the subject of gossip, since no one had come up and pointed it out directly to her, wouldn’t it be unseemly for her to go over there and invite criticism on herself?

But even if she refrained from inviting criticism, there were still those who wouldn’t let her be.

Ye Xinyan kept adjusting her mindset, and just when she was bored out of her mind, a voice abruptly rose: "Grandma Wang mustn’t speak of my sister like that. My sister is just assisting His Highness Prince Yu with his work, with no untoward thoughts whatsoever."

Is this standing up for someone? But who stands up for another in such a way?